29 Interesting Facts About The Horror Author, Stephen King
Stephen King is an American author who has written many bestsellers - you may have heard of him even if you weren't reading!
If you love Stephen King's work, get to know him through these top 29 exciting facts!
His full name is Stephen Edwin King.
His main occupation is a novelist, but he has also produced programs for television and other media.
His books are classified in the horror, fantasy and science fiction categories.
He wrote under two pseudonyms - Richard Bachman and John Swithen.
King has written more than 49 full-length novels, 7 autographs, 5 non-fiction texts, and 5 collections of short stories.
He married his wife Tabitha in 1971.
They have three children together - Naomi, Joe and Owen.
His father abandoned the family, leaving his wife, adoptive child David and young Stephen.
He was inspired to write from his father's book H. P. Lovecraft's The Lurker in the Shadows.
As a child, he witnessed his friend die in a train accident.
Before being a successful novelist, he sold short stories to male magazines such as Cavalier.
He holds a BA in English Literature from the University of Maine.
The first manuscript of Carrie's novel became trash, but Tabitha saw the potential.
Other famous works of the time were Salem's Lot, The Shining and The Stand.
It was time that King became addicted to alcohol and drugs.
King wrote for the comic book Marvel Heroes for Hope Starring the X-Men - a charity that helps prevent famine in Africa.
His series The Dark Towers has been described as a successful fantasy film, bridging the western spaghetti.
Believing his fame was just an accident, King wrote the name Bachman.
In 1999, King was hit by a pickup truck.
He has collaborated with many authors and artists including Peter Straub and Michael Jackson.
King tries to write at least 2,000 words a day.
He likes to use Waterman paper and fountain pens.
King writes as a pop culture journalist for Entertainment Weekly.
He's a fan of AC / DC and The Ramones.
His favorite screen-to-screen adaptations are Stand By Me, The Shawshank Redemption and The Mist.
He starred in George Romero's film Knightriders as an enthusiastic audience.
King is a fan of the Boston Red Sox.
He is a political activist, speaking out against restricting violent video games to people under 18.
King has won more than 50 awards for his novels - his first was the American Library Association Teen's Best Book of 1978 with "Salem's Lot".